Nasketucket Bay project receives $1 million federal grant

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given a $1 million grant to a project slated to conserve more than 400 acres of coastal lands around Nasketucket Bay.

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By ARIEL WITTENBERG

southcoasttoday.com

By ARIEL WITTENBERG

Posted Apr. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 18, 2013 at 5:50 AM

By ARIEL WITTENBERG

Posted Apr. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 18, 2013 at 5:50 AM

» Social News

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given a $1 million grant to a project slated to conserve more than 400 acres of coastal lands around Nasketucket Bay.

The project is a joint effort between the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation to expand the coastal Nasketucket Bay State Reservation located between Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.

That area is "one of the most sensitive habitats and embayments in Buzzards Bay," according to coalition spokesman Robert Hancock.

"It's in good shape but in need of protection to stay that way," he said.

The land purchased with the money will be owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

In a written statement, DCR Commissioner Edward Lambert Jr. called the conservation project "a great example of DCR's commitment to community partnership and furthers our agency's mission to protect, promote and enhance Massachusetts' natural, cultural and recreational resources."

The Nasketucket Bay State Reservation is currently 209 acres, and Hancock said the partnership hopes to acquire 197 acres of forest and coastal wetlands. They also hope to place conservation restrictions on 201 acres of active farmland.

Hancock said purchasing all 400 acres will cost an estimated $6 million.

In addition to this $1 million grant, the coalition has already received $2 million through the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. DCR and the coalition are also seeking funds from the Bouchard Oil Spill Trustee Council, the towns of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett and private donors.

They hope to complete the project by December.

Once complete, Hancock said, the reservation will connect bike paths in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.

"This project will not only protect a critical coastal habitat but it also creates great ways for people to get out and explore," he said.

He added that the Buzzards Bay Coalition will lead a May 5 bike tour of the reservation that is open to the public.